Pinagsoltada

87

2018 . . .

A KICK from Vidal knocked down Ernesto down from his squatted position. Habang nakatukod sa maruming sahig ang isang kamay niya ay gumusot ang kaniyang mukha nang nag-angat ng tingin dito.

"Bakit hindi tayo makapupunta sa gamehouse ng mga Tenorio? Bakit?" anas ni Vidal sa magaspang na boses.

He glared at him but Vidal just stared back. Damang-dama ni Ernesto ang paninigas ng kaniyang mga panga at pangangati ng kaniyang mga kamao, pero nagtimpi na lang siya at sinikap na makatayo. Kaya lang, kaka-squat pa lang niya at akmang tatayo na ay tumapak ang maalikabok na itim na bota ni Vidal sa kaniyang tuhod.

"Sagutin mo ang tanong ko, Ernesto!" asik nito, tila ba said na said na ang pasensiya. Vidal looked more rugged than him, with his thick jet black hair disheveled and lined with white streaks, mostly on the left parting of his hair line, and a decent cup of beard on his chin and moustache around his mouth.

"We are not qualified."

"Not qualified, my ass," Vidal hissed, sinisterly grinning as he pushed his toe to his thigh forcefully. "Alam ko ang alitan sa pagitan ninyong mga Dela Fuente at Tenorio!"

Ernesto grabbed Vidal's leg. Bago pa niya ito maalis mula sa pagkakatukod sa kaniyang binti ay pasipa itong umalis doon kaya napaupo na naman siya sa sahig at napatukod ang isang kamay dito.

"I'm not involved with your petty family feud, Ernesto! I don't give a fuck about it, either! So, humble yourself to the Tenorios if necessary! Kailangan mong makasali sa derby na gaganapin gamehouse nila!"

Vidal turned on his heels and walked away, out of the lifeless, concrete breeding house of Vidal's roosters. Sa kasalukuyan, ang manukan ni Ernesto ay tahanan na ng mga manok-panabong at pang-breeding ni Vidal Arguelle.

Tumayo si Ernesto at pinagpagan ang alikabok na dumikit sa kaniyang maong na pantalon. He wiped his hands to one another to remove the dirt from them as well. Pagkatapos ay nilingon niya ang payat na inahin na nabitiwan niya kanina nang sipain ni Vidal. Humalo na ito sa iba pang mga inahin na paikot-ikot sa kanilang munting compartment sa breeding house.

Hindi niya inasahan na ang pag-ibig sa isang babae ang magpapalunok sa kaniya sa palagi niyang sinasabi noon na hindi siya katulad ng mga Silvestre na ma-pride. Isipin pa lang niya na magpapakumbaba siya sa mga Tenorio ay para na siyang mangingisay. Ngunit, ang pag-ibig din na iyon at ang walang-hiyang si Vidal ang magtutulak sa kaniya na suyuin ang mga Tenorio.

Minutes later, Ernesto was already outside the breeding house. Hindi siya lumabas agad kanina dahil ayaw niyang maabutan doon si Vidal, ang mga tauhan nito, at ang kanilang mga sasakyan. He was welcomed by the cool breeze and the green grass of their family's own hacienda but none of them could soothe his heart. None of them could help him breathe. The sky was in the clear, darker shade of blue that was Alwyn's favorite hue, making his heart break a little more.

God, he misses his son so much, and it had only been one week since he went to Tagaytay with his mother to visit her parents for a two-week summer vacation. He had to endure this longing for his son but it was worth it because, he knew that Alwyn needed a break from the reminders of his parents processing their annulment. Masbate would remind him a lot of that. To forget a little, a vacation away from Masbate will do.

The annulment could have been implemented faster if Allyssa wouldn't attend any of the hearings. That would be interpreted as her willingness for the annulment to be approved, but for the sake of polishing an agreement regarding Alwyn's custody, visitation rights, and others related to their son, both of them decided to show up in court. And damn, getting to the middle ground was harder than he thought. Pero minsan, pinagdududahan na niya ang abogado ni Allyssa. That lawyer must be trying to extend these hearing sessions for the money. Or maybe it was the judge who's at fault. Bakit hindi ito makapagdesisyon agad? Bakit ang lalayo din ng pagitan ng unang hearing sa kasunod na hearing? If not months then a year. It was as if, the Arguelles who got re-elected for the mayoral position again, had something to do with it by influencing the judge's decision or something . . .